One of the horror genre's "most widely read critics" (Rue Morgue # 68), "an accomplished film journalist" (Comic Buyer's Guide #1535), and the award-winning author of Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002), John Kenneth Muir, presents his blog on film, television and nostalgia, named one of the Top 100 Film Studies Blog on the Net.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

So Ends Another Year On the Blog

Once
again, it is difficult to believe that another year has gone by. The year 2015 is now, almost, in the
rear-view mirror.

I
have now been blogging here for eleven years, since I began in 2005, and I
posted some celebratory posts in 2015 about the milestone.

Last time I checked, there have been over 7200
posts here, since the beginning.

Also,
I devoted much time and energy in 2015 to celebrating the fiftieth
anniversary of Lost in Space (1965-1968), and the career of film director M.
Night Shyamalan, who this year brought us the scary (and funny) The
Visit.

The
blog this year also saw a week devoted to A Nightmare on Elm Street, James
Bond’s return in Spectre, and, of course, Star Wars too.

We
even celebrated a whopping three Friday the 13thholidays
this year.

In
related news, my latest book, The X-Files FAQ was also published
in 2015 and (at least so far) has earned very positive reviews. I also have
completed my first full year as a communications instructor (teaching public
speech, journalism, intercultural communications, and other courses) at a local
community college here in N.C.

So
it’s fair to say I kept busy in 2015.

Looking
ahead to 2016, the blog will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Gene
Roddenberry’s Star Trek with weekly episode reviews of the classic series.

Also,
The
X-Files returns to television in a few short weeks, after a thirteen year
hiatus. I’ll be blogging every new
episode here too.

There’s
much to look forward in the year ahead, including a new Star Trek film (in July).
I am also planning to launch a kind of web-publication called “In Review” with
volumes/issues looking at different TV shows and film franchises. I’m currently planning volumes on Millennium,
The Starlost, Planet of the Apes, and Buck Rogers.I’ll be certain to post here more as the
project develops.

As
always, thank you for your continued readership and friendship. I am happy we could spend 2015 year together and hope the same will be true for years to come.

John,I cannot say enough good things about you and your writings. Often, I will send links of your reviews to friends and colleagues with the simple comment, "THIS is what I'm trying to say to you about (insert film name here)."I really enjoy your style, wit and attention to detail. It is unmatched in my opinion.Looking forward to a great New Year, and wishing you all the best as we move into both new and old realms of genre entertainment!Steve

Looking forward to your Star Trek reviews/watches. I started my own two years ago but have stopped, for some reason. Maybe you will influence me to continue my own takes...http://barrysmight.blogspot.ca/2013/05/my-favourite-treks-batch-1.html

About John

award-winning author of 27 books including Horror Films FAQ (2013), Horror Films of the 1990s (2011), Horror Films of the 1980s (2007), TV Year (2007), The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (2007), Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair (2006),, Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company (2004), The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi (2004), An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (2002), The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film & Television (2004), Exploring Space:1999 (1997), An Analytical Guide to TV's Battlestar Galactica (1998), Terror Television (2001), Space:1999 - The Forsaken (2003) and Horror Films of the 1970s (2002).

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What the Critics Say...

"...some of the best writing about the genre has been done by John Kenneth Muir. I am particularly grateful to him for the time and attention he's paid to things others have overlooked, under-appreciated and often written off. His is a fan's perspective first, but with a critic's eye to theme and underscore, to influence and pastiche..." - Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files, in the foreword to Horror Films FAQ (October 2013).

"Hands down, John Kenneth Muir is one of the finest critics and writers working today. His deep analysis of contemporary American culture is always illuminating and insightful. John's film writing and criticism is outstanding and a great place to start for any budding writer, but one should also examine his work on comic books, TV, and music. His weighty catalog of books and essays combined with his significant blog production places him at the top of pop culture writers. Johns work is essential in understanding the centrality of culture in modern society." - Professor Bob Batchelor, cultural historian and Executive Director of the James Pedas Communication Center at Thiel College (2014).

"...an independent film scholar, [Muir] explains film studies concepts in a language that is reader-friendly and engaging..." (The Hindu, 2007)"...Muir's genius lies in his giving context to the films..." (Choice, 2007)